Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems has won a major contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop their largely solid propulsion OmegA rocket. The contract award, valued at an approximate total of $792 million to be paid in increments over various phases, ensures the Air Force that NGIS will develop both an intermediate and heavy configuration for OmegA.NGIS now looks to finish the already-underway development and build of OmegA ahead of two intermediate configuration certification flights in 2021 from LC-39B at the Kennedy Space Center, FL – with two OmegA heavy variant certification flights following from LC-39B in 2024.OmegA – a major contract win for Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems:The contract award followed a Request For Proposals (RFP) from the U.S. Air Force last year as part of the government’s effort to ensure competition and a diverse range of launcher choices for government space needs.But work on OmegA began long before the Air Force RFP. In fact, the idea for OmegA can trace its history to the Antares rocket and its initial development, which began in 2007.“[Antares], at the time, was meant to be a Delta II replacement,” said Mike Laidley, Vice President of OmegA for Northrop ...